What do people do?

On August 30 each year, organizations such as the UN and Amnesty International play an active role in raising awareness that enforced disappearance is a crime and should not be used as a tool to deal with situations of conflict. Many activists openly share personal stories, via the media or public event, about victims of enforced disappearances and the impact that these disappearances have on their families and communities.

Public life

The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is a UN observance and not a public holiday.

Background

Enforced disappearance is used as a strategy to spread terror within the society. It occurs when people are arrested, detained or abducted against their will and when governments refuse to disclose the whereabouts of these people. Enforced disappearance is a global problem and is not restricted to a specific region of the world.

In December 2010, the UN officially declared that it would annually observe the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30 each year, starting from 2011.

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances Observances

Select another year-range:

Weekday

Date

Year

Name

Holiday type

Where it is observed

Tue

Aug 30

2011

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Thu

Aug 30

2012

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Fri

Aug 30

2013

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Sat

Aug 30

2014

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Sun

Aug 30

2015

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Tue

Aug 30

2016

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Wed

Aug 30

2017

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Thu

Aug 30

2018

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Fri

Aug 30

2019

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Sun

Aug 30

2020

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

United Nations observance

Quick Facts

The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is annually observed on August 30.